WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Claiming some people are taking advantage of the system, President Donald Trump said Monday his administration is looking very strongly at welfare reform.
Trump brought up the issue of welfare reform at a Cabinet meeting he said would include a discussion about reducing excessive government spending.
'One thing we're going to be looking at very strongly is welfare reform. That's becoming a very, very big subject,' Trump said. 'People are taking advantage of the system. And then other people aren't receiving what they really need to live, and we think it's very unfair to them.'
He added, 'But some people are really taking advantage of our system from that standpoint, and we are going to be looking very, very strongly there for welfare reform.'
Trump suggested that his administration would be offering a lot of recommendations to reform the welfare system very shortly.
The president also discussed a number of other issues, including his decision to decertify Iran's compliance with an international nuclear agreement.
Trump indicated he was compelled to make the controversial move because he was tired of seeing the U.S. being taken advantage of as a nation.
The move gives Congress sixty days to decide whether to re-impose sanctions on Iran, with Trump urging lawmakers to amend legislation to establish a series of benchmarks that could automatically restore sanctions.
'We'll see what phase two is. Phase two might be positive, and it might be very negative,' Trump said. 'It might be a total termination. That's a very real possibility; some would say that's a greater possibility. But it could also turn out to be very positive. We'll see what happens.'
Trump also touched on his decision to eliminate cost-sharing reduction payments to insurance companies under Obamacare, calling the subsidies a disgrace.
The president argued that the move to end the payments brought Republicans and Democrats together in an effort to come up with a short-term fix on healthcare.
Trump expressed confidence lawmakers would pass a short-term fix and predicted a longer-term fix would be accomplished next March or April.
'We will have a very solid vote. It will be probably 100 percent Republican -- no Democrats,' Trump said. 'But most people know that that's going to be a very good form of health insurance.'
Following the Cabinet meeting, Trump held a lunch meeting with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ken.
Trump subsequently told reporters that he has a 'very good' relationship with McConnell even though he has regularly criticized the Republican leader.
(Photo: Michael Vadon)
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